Objective
RELIGARE starts from the idea of equality and how it is challenged by the increasing diversity of religions and other convictions that are transforming Europe. The EU’s expansion, together with important migration fluxes, partly explains this increasing diversity. A growing number of citizens, many of whom are new EU citizens, now hold beliefs and values different from the majority. One observes that individuals and groups today are claiming recognition of their (religious) identity in their family life, their work place, the public space, and the ways States provide support to religious and other groupings. These claims sometimes question and disturb the existing models of secularism in Europe. Public authorities thus face demanding challenges, probably more than ever before, of establishing social cohesion.
RELIGARE's overarching goals are: 1) to encourage a critical debate between on the one hand secular assumptions that form part of Europe’s legacy, including their normative frameworks (existing legal regimes), and on the other hand the practical realities (coping mechanisms and empirically grounded observations); 2) to identify, analyse and evaluate the processes which should eventually lead to adequate policy responses and, where necessary, revision of legislation.
RELIGARE's research will: 1) examine the way religious diversity and pluralism are treated in Member States; 2) ascertain deficits and explore the potentials of more appropriate practices, case law, expert and target group inputs (primary sources) and academic literature; 3) advance policy recommendations to address current and future dilemmas in protecting religious diversity and pluralism, considering the role of the EU.
The consortium unites academic experts from 13 research units from 9 Member States and Turkey. They are supported by an advisory board of eminent persons connected to policymaking, legislative work and the judiciary in the field of religious diversity and pluralism.
Fields of science
Not validated
Not validated
Call for proposal
FP7-SSH-2009-A
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research projectCoordinator
3000 Leuven
Belgium
See on map
Participants (12)
1165 Kobenhavn
See on map
20122 Milano
See on map
E1 4NS London
See on map
75794 Paris
See on map
91054 Erlangen
See on map
1000 Bruxelles / Brussel
See on map
1303 Sofia
See on map
06800 Ankara
See on map
28040 Madrid
See on map
1081 HV Amsterdam
See on map
1012WX Amsterdam
See on map
1348 Louvain La Neuve
See on map